After dropping Game One of the Eastern Conference final by a narrow 10-9 score, the Toronto Rock returned to their home floor at the Air Canada Centre on Saturday night looking to even and steal the series from the back to back to back NLL champion Rochester Knighthawks. The Knighthawks saw leading scorer Cody Jamieson go down with an ankle injury early on in Game One, but still were able to gut out a 10-9 win, on the strength of an outstanding individual effort by Dan Dawson on the game winning goal. The Knighthawks have been the beasts of the East the last three seasons, winning three straight East Division championships on route to three straight NLL Championships.
The Toronto Rock would gain the first possession off the opening faceoff, and they would make no mistake on their first opportunity of the night as Brett Hickey would come off of a Rob Hellyer pick, to fire a low underarm shot past a screened Matt Vinc. Up 1-0, the Rock would again control the draw, and where able to get three straight offensive opportunities before Brett Hickey again found the back of the net on an outstanding net drive capped off with a beautiful crease dive where he beat Vinc high to make it 2-0. Stephan LeBlanc would put the Rock up 3-0, off of a feed from Hellyer, however the Knighthawks where quick to respond, as a quick transition from Brad Self to Scott Self, allowed the elder Self to find a streaking Stephen Keogh off the bench, who beat Brandon Miller between the legs, to pull Rochester withing two. Following the Keogh marker, the Rock would find themselves short handed as Josh Sanderson went off on a holding call. After successfully killing the Sanderson penalty the Rock were able to find the back of the net for the fourth time of the game as Brock Sorensen and LeBlanc worked a nice give and go before Sorensen beat Matt Vinc.
As things started to settle down, the Rochester defense began to step up limiting the Rock’s hot offense. In the Knighthawks’ following possession sharp shooter Craig Point was able to shoot around a screen to beat Brandon Miller in the Toronto cage. Down 4-2 the Knighthawks defense continued to force the Rock to low quality outside shots, also improving their transition play in the process, capped off with a Brad Self breakaway that Miller ultimately made the stop on. As the first quarter wore on both defenses began to settle down, and step up the physical play. With under a minute to play Craig Point was called for a dead ball foul, giving the Rock the man advantage to close the quarter.
The Rock would open the second quarter still on the man advantage as just over 40 seconds remained on Craig Point’s penalty, however Rochester was able to successfully kill the penalty. The Knighthawks overzealous physical play would again cost them as Cory Vitarelli was whistled for checking from behind. This time the Rock power play would not be denied as LeBlanc found Kevin Crowley, who streaked in unharassed to beat Vinc, making 5-2 Rock. The Rock would keep their foot on the gas, as just under two minutes after Crowley had made it 5-2, Colin Doyle stepped into one that trickled past Vinc to make it 6-2. Things would only get worse for the Knighthawks as they would again find themselves down a man, as Scott Campbell was charged with a checking from behind penalty. However this time the Rock power play would be negated by a two minute holding call being handed out Rob Marshall. With the play now 4 on 4 Dan Dawson went to work, bulling his way to the net, only to be denied by Miller, who continued to stand on his head. Rochester would enjoy a 5-on-4 advantage for 1:08 as Campbell was released from the box, however it was the Toronto Rock who would end up with the best offensive opportunity.
Rob Marshall would step out of the box as his penalty would down, and was hit with a perfect pass from Jesse Gamble as he broke down the middle of the floor on a breakaway. Marshall would beat Vinc with a tricky shot to give the Rock a 7-2 lead. The Rock’s offensive attack was relentless as nearly right after they went up five goals the Rock broke in 3 on 1 only to be denied by Vinc. On the next Rochester possession it looked as though Jordan Hall had brought the Knighthawks within three, however following video review it was deemed that Hall had stepped in the crease prior to scoring the goal. The Rocks transition game continued to give the Knighthawks trouble as the quarter wore on, as Gamble’s speed drew a penalty on Rochester’s Dylan Evans. An once again the Rock power play would capitalize as Hickey beat Vinc for his third of the game on a beautiful outside shot that ate the corner of the net to give the Rock an 8-2 lead. With just two seconds remaining in the second half, Stephen Keogh would rip a cannon of a shot past Brandon Miller to narrow the Rock lead to 8-3.
The second half would open up just as the first half ended, physical, as Damon Edwards through a huge hit on a Rochester player in front of the Rock bench in the opening seconds of the period. With the tone set for the second half the Toronto Rock wasted no time to get on the score board once again as Leblanc beat Vinc with a powerful underarm shot. Following the Rock’s ninth goal the Knighthawks defense settled down and got back to their usual physical stingy defense, which in turn sparked the offense some. While Rochester couldn’t muster a goal, they were able to draw a power play opportunity as Brodie Merrill was sent off for checking from behind.
Rochester would not score on the man advantage, however they would use the momentum of the power play opportunity to find the back of the net. Dan Dawson used his tremendous strength to draw two defenders before moving the ball to a wide open Keogh who stepped into a rocket of a shot, that beat Miller to bring the Knighthawks within five. Just over a minute after Keogh beat Miller to bring the Knighthawks within five, Keogh once again found the back of the net to bring the Knighthawks within four. Keogh found the back of the net while laying on his back in front of the net, beating Miller between the legs for his fourth of the game. With the score now 9-5 the Rochester Knighthawks seemed to get have a jump in their step as they began to dictate the pace of the game. With the third quarter winding down Sid Smith would pick off a arrant Rock pass, as the ball eventually got to Brad Self, who beat Miller to pull Rochester within just three. The Rock would hold a 9-6 lead as the teams headed into the final quarter of action.
The fourth quarter kicked off the same way the third quarter ended, with the Rochester Knighthawks dominating the play. While the Rock denied Rochester’s first couple entries to the offensive zone, they were unable to contain Stephen Keogh, as he used a pick to fire home his fifth of the game, to pull Rochester within two. To make matters worse following Keogh’s fifth of the game the Knighthawks drew a penalty, as Patrick Merrill was whistled for holding. Right when it looked as though Rochester was in prime position to attack, the Rock drew a delayed penalty, giving them an extra attacker, with a penalty on the way it was not needed as Josh Sanderson was able to beat Vinc to give the Rock a 10-7 lead.
Following an unsuccessful Rock power play, the Knighthawks got back to attacking, however they had lost the momentum they gained following four straight goals. That became even more evident as the Rock extended their lead to 11-7 as Leblanc potted his third of the game. Following the Rock goal the Knighthawks would show no deflation as the got right back on the attack, drawing a man advantage as Toronto was called for two many men on the floor. As the penalty wound down to its final few seconds it would once again be Keogh who beat Miller to pull the Knighthawks back within three with just under two minutes to play. However the Rock would gain possession off of the draw and would let the clock tick down, defeating the Knighthawks 11-8 in Game 2 of the East Division Final.
Mini Game
With the Rock defeating the Knighthawks 11-8 in Game 2 of the East Division Final, it set up the much talked about “Mini Game.” Rochester’s Stephen Keogh had picked up an interference penalty as the fourth quarter ticked down, that penalty would carry over to the Mini Game, giving the Rock a distinct advantage to kick off the 10 minute Game 3.
Toronto would kick off “Game 3” in fine fashion as Sanderson, off to the side of the net one timed a shot past Vinc off of a lovely feed from Hickey to put the Rock 1-0. The Rock would again gain possession off of the draw, with Sanderson single handily putting the Rock up 2-0 on a beautiful individual effort, in which he finished off beating Vinc between the legs. With the crowd at the Air Canada Centre absolutely rocking, the Rock continued their momentum swing as this time it was Colin Doyle’s turn as he backed his defender in before using him as a screen as he fired a laser beam underarm shot from the outside past a screened Vinc. The Rock momentum swing would continue to roll, as the Rock spread the Knighthawks defense leading to Hellyer finding Leblanc all alone on the crease, where he made no mistake beating Vinc, putting the Rock up 4-0. The Rock offense couldn’t be stopped as Leblanc again beat Vinc to put the Rock up 5-0 on a beautiful one handed goal with a Knighthawks defender draped all over him.
As the first five minutes of the Mini game ticked off the clock, Hellyer would make it 6-0 Rock, as he put a slick move on his defender Dylan Evans before diving across the crease to beat Angus Goodleaf, who was now in goal in favor of the shell shocked Vinc. Mike Hasen would throw the challenge flag on the Hellyer goal, but it was to no avail as the video replay would simply prove it was a good goal. With Rochester down 6-0 with five minutes remaining, Hasen began pulling netminder Angus Goodleaf on every offensive possession, trying to give the Knighthawks any advantage they could find as the clock ticked down on their reign as NLL Champs. Adding insult to injury Hellyer made it 7-0 Rock, finishing off a beautiful pick and roll play with Hickey. While the Knighthawks where down 7-0, they still showed fight and a never quit mentality as Joe Resetarits would beat Miller for his first of the game and Rochester’s first of overtime to make it 7-1. Joe Walters would add a late mini game marker to make it 7-2, however it was now where near enough as the massive early game lead built up by the Rock was insurmountable. A late game penalty shot would be awarded to the Toronto Rock’s Pat Merrill, and he would beat Angus Goodleaf between the legs to give the Rock an 8-2 lead, however with the game well in hand the goal proved meaningless.
With an 8-2 win in the Game 3 mini game the Toronto Rock dethroned the back to back to back defending champion Rochester Knighthawks and will move on to the NLL final where they will face the winner of the Calgary Roughnecks and Edmonton Rush. Miller picked up the victory in goal for the Rock, making 43 saves on 51 shots. Hellyer, Leblanc and Sanderson would tie for the team lead in points with five apiece, however Sanderson’s late game play in Game 2 of the East Final was undoubtedly what pushed the Rock over the edge. Vinc took the loss for the Knighthawks allowing 11 goals on 43 shots, while Keogh would lead Rochester offensively with six goals.
